13 Apr 2026

In cognisance of the prevailing economic situation, the business community has been implored to warm up to government’s proposed minimum wage of P4,000 and to offer employment opportunities to the disabled, who are often marginalised.

The call was made by Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General Pius Mokgware, who noted that his ministry policy spoke to the development of conducive policies and strategic standards on labour that resonated with staff welfare merged with productivity.

Maj. Gen Mokgware, who was speaking during the grand opening of the revamped Halfway Toyota Ngami showroom in Maun, said government remained resolute in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and as such they believed that profitable companies could afford to improve worker welfare.

However, he appreciated that some companies such as Halfway Toyota Ngami had already heeded the call and had since started implementing the minimum wage of P4,000 immediately after its pronouncement.

“I am captivated by this development as it is part of my everyday plea to several companies and non-governmental organisations that in cognisance of the economic circumstances, employers should help cushion their human capital” he added. He described the company as a law abiding entity as it prioritised staff welfare and protected its brand to ensure it blended well with customer service.

As government is envisaging to introduce a 24-hour economy, Maj. Gen Mokgware also expressed gratitude that Halfway Toyota had also introduced shift work - with work broken into eight-hour shifts.

The style, he said, was an enabling development for both employees and customers who could work or receive service beyond the normal working hours.

He said the country was faced with a serious challenge of unemployment among young people and believed that the 24-hour economy would be a solution to the challenge on the ground.

“This is an ambitious strategy that aims to create job opportunities and boost economic growth. The system goes beyond traditional business hours as it uses multiple shifts to boost productivity,” he said as he commended Halfway Toyota for having created more than 180 jobs in Kasane, Maun and Serowe.

“This company is actively engaging its strengths in fulfilling part of government’s responsibility, which is to offer labour and social security, promotion and diversification of strategic direction and guidance in the provision of competitive reforms of labour management and incentives” he stated.

Maj. Gen Mokgware also highlighted that his ministry would engage Halfway Toyota on the possibility of having the company enrol interns from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs) programme to give them exposure and on-the-job experience especially those from administrative and auto mobility courses.

Furthermore, he urged businesses to adopt the 24-hour economy strategy as it would also help open more business opportunities.

Government, he said, was planning to upgrade some border posts such as Martin’s Drift, Pioneer Gate in Lobatse and Tlokweng to 24-hour operations to support the 24-hour economy.

Member of Parliament for Maun North, Mr Dumelang Saleshando appreciated the new development by the company, saying the move marked the beginning of their journey of expanding their presence across the country.

He said the development gave the community hope that life would be better through the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.

Mr Saleshando said schools in the region were academically underperforming because facilities were dilapidated, but expressed optimism that the company’s CSR would help provide a conducive learning and teaching environment. ENDS